Apparatus for setting-up cartons



Nov. 28, 1961 R. w. E. MOSSE APPARATUS FOR SETTING-UP CARTONS Filed June 7, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \un wp I nventor Nov. 28, 1961 R. w. E. MOSSE 3,010,373

APPARATUS FOR SETTING-UP CARTONS Filed June 7, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In ventor Fla/{Am ME. 7 E

Nov. 28, 1961 Filed June 7, 1960 R. w. E. MOSSE 3,010,373

APPARATUS FOR SETTING-UP CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig- .59 4039 J9 o G 54 Inventor Eel/4190M E.// E

Nov. 28, 1961 R. w. E. MOSSE 3,010,373

APPARATUS FOR SETTING-UP CARTONS Inventor HARD 11/5 Moss-k United States Patent Ofiice 3,010,373 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,373 APPARATUS FOR SETTING-UP CARTONS Richard Wolfgang Emil Mosse, London, England, as-

signor to The Metal Box Company Limited, London,

England, a British company Filed June 7, 1960, Ser. No. 34,400 Claims priority, application Great Britain June 30, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 93-51) This invention relates to apparatus for setting-up cartons from carton blanks which, in the set-up condition thereof, have overlying portions arranged to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition pre-applied to the blank.

When setting-up cartons from blanks of the kind above mentioned it is necessary to effect heating of the thermoplastic adhesive composition in order that overlying blank portions to be secured together can be pressed into engagement with each other and firmly adhered to each other by the adhesive composition. Heretofore, it has in practice generally been the custom to effect heating of the thermoplastic adhesive composition while the blank is in the set-up condition thereof within the die and it has been necessary to retain the set-up blank within the die for an interval of time such that the adhesive composition becomes sufiiciently softened for the pressure exerted on the overlying portions to cause satisfactory adherence of the portions one to the other. The time necessary for the satisfactory heating of the blanks within the die has restricted the rate of operation of the setting-up apparatus and it is an object of the present invention to eifect heating of the appropriate portions of a blank before movement thereof into the die, thus reducing the heating time required when the blank is setup in the die.

According to the invention there is provided carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a carton blank can be pressed to eifect the setting-up thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition pro-applied to the blank, a main shaft, a forming punch operable by the main shaft once during each revolution of the shaft to enter the die, conveyor means operable by the main shaft and arranged to move a plurality of blanks simultaneously and in succession to the die for setting-up therein by the forming punch following engagement of the blanks by the conveyor means for an interval of time which exceeds the time taken for each revolution of the main shaft by a multiple thereof equal to the total number less one of blanks simultaneously engageable by the conveyor means, and heater means movable with the conveyor means and arranged throughout movement of a blank by the conveyor means to direct heat towards the blank to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die.

Further according to the invention there is provided carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a carton blank can be pressed to effect the setting-up thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition pre-applied to the blank, a magazine to contain a stack of said carton blanks, conveyor means to move a plurality of blanks simultaneously and in succession to said die, transfer means operable in timed relation with the conveyor means to remove blanks one at a time from the magazine and position them for movement to the die by the conveyor means, heater means movable with the conveyor means and arranged throughout movement of a blank by the conveyor to direct heat towards the blank to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die, and a forming punch operable in timed relation with the conveyor means to press into the die a blank delivered thereto by the conveyor means.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan of a blank from which a carton is to be set-up,

FIGURE 2 illustrates the blank of FIGURE 1 in the set-up condition thereof,

FIGURE 3 illustrates, partly in section, apparatus according to the invention,

FIGURE 4 is a top plan of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a view, partly in section, looking in the direction of arrow V, FIGURE 4, and

FIGURE 6 is a pictorial view illustrating the mode of operation of a part of the apparatus.

The blank may be of known kind and made of cardboard or other suitable material the opposite sides of which are gloss-waxed with a coating of low viscosity paraflin wax. Beneath the wax on at least one side of the blank, the cardboard is coated with a thermoplastic adhesive composition which is applied to the portions of the blank which in the set-up condition thereof are to form the heat-seals by which the carton is retained in the set-up condition. The thermoplastic adhesive composition is one which is incompatible with the wax, is non-tacky at normal temperatures and is softened at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the wax, the softening temperature of the adhesive composition being preferably appreciably above the melting temperature of the wax, the difference being for example of the order of 20 C. One suitable form of thermoplastic adhesive composition is a polyvinyl acetate resin having incorporated therein plasticisers which render it heatsealable but non-tacky at normal temperatures when applied to a blank.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a blank B which is to form a carton body, FIGURE 2, having a rectangular four-sided bottom 1, to the sides of which are hinged a front Wall 2, a rear wall 3, and two side walls 4, 5. In the set-up condition of the body, the front, rear and side walls are all retained in the erect condition thereof by infolded corner flaps 6 each of which is folded about a score or crease 7 so that when the corner fiaps are folded marginal portions 8 overlie the regions of adhesive composition 9 provided on the side walls 4, 5 beneath the gloss-Wax coating. To the rear wall 3 there is hingedly connected a lid 10 provided with side panels 111, 12 and with a front panel 13 which, when the carton is closed, are arranged to be folded into engagement with the side walls 4, 5 and the front wall 2 of the body respectively and to be secured thereto by an adhesive composition as described above.

The setting-up apparatus according to the invention comprises a magazine 14, FIGURES 3 to 5, in which a stack of carton blanks B are placed for movement towards an outlet by a sliding presser pad 15 movement of which is controlled by a weight 16 and cable 17. The blanks are removed one at a time from the magazine by any known form of device such as a sucker device 18 carried by a bell-crank 19 pivoted at 20 to a bracket 21 fixed to a table 22 mounted on a hollow pillar 23, FIGURE 1, secured to base members 24. Rocking of bell-crank 19 is efiected by a link 25 connected to a crank 26 rotated by a chain 27 from a main shaft 28, FIGURE 1, which is rotated by any suitable means, not shown. The sucker device 18 is moved from the position shown in full lines, FIGURE 3, to the broken line position thereof and is guided by a pin 29 which is located in a slot 30 formed in the sucker device.

Each blank as it is removed from the magazine is deposited by the sucker device in the path of conveyor means which is arranged to pass over a die, described below, relative to which the carton blank is positioned to be pressed into the die to effect setting-up thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which, during the setting-up operation, are to be secured one to the other by the thermoplastic adhesive composition 9 which has been pre-applied to the blank.

Each blank B removed from the magazine 14 by the sucker device 18 is deposited by the sucker device on four arcu-ate guide rails 31 for movement by the conveyor means between guides 32 which engage the opposite end edges of the blank. The conveyor means comprises a spider 33 which has four equi-spaced arms 34 and which is secured to a vertical spindle 35 rotatable in bearings 36, FIGURE 3, housed in the pillar 23. The spindle 35 is rotated continuously by bevel gears 37, 38 of which gear 38 is rotatable with the main shaft 28.

Each arm 34 extends radially from the axis of rotation of the spider and supports a pair of brackets 39 in which a pusher spindle 40 is pivoted and to which are secured rails 41 which press a blank against the rails 31. Spindle 40 has two pusher elements 42 secured thereto and an arm 43 which carries a roller 44 arranged to co-operate with a stationary cam 45. One of the brackets 39 also carries a pair of radiant heaters 46, FIGURE 4, which are electrically connected with brushes 47, FIGURE 3, mounted on the spider 33 and arranged to co-operate with slip rings 43 mounted on the table 22 and electrically connected with a source, not shown, of electrical supply. When a blank B is deposited on the rails 31, the side of the blank which is provided with the adhesive composition 9 is uppermost and when the pusher elements 42 engage the blank the heaters 46 are disposed just above the ad hesive composition 9 so that as the blank is moved by the pusher elements the heaters direct heat towards the blank so that the adhmive composition is heated and rendered tacky in preparation for the setting-up operation which is performed in the die.

As can be seen from FIGURE 4, a blank is moved by the pusher elements through about 270 and is located above the die by stops 49. The stationary cam 45 by cooperation with the rollers 44 causes the pusher elements to be disengaged from the blanks as the blanks engage the stops 49 and to be restored to the operative feeding positions thereof just before they reach the position at which a blank is first engaged thereby.

The die includes two opposite movable side walls 50, 51, FIGURE 5, mounted on slide members 52, 53 which respectively carry rollers 54, 55 co-operating with cams 56, 57 rotated by a chain 58 from the main shaft 28. The die also includes two opposite fixed walls 59, 69, FIGURE 3.

Mounted above the die is a forming punch 61, FIGURE 3, secured to a punch bracket 62 slidable lengthwise of a pair of posts 63 and connected to an operating rod 64 Which is also connected to a crank 65 rotatable with the main shaft 28. When a blank is located against the stops 49 the punch 61 descends and presses the blank into the die thereby setting-up the blank to the form thereof illustrated in FIGURE 2. The cams 56, 57 then, during a dwell in the movement of the punch 61, cause the movable die walls 50, 51 to press the blank against the punch to ensure adhesion between the carton side walls 4, and the portions 8 of the corner flaps 6. If desired, the movable die walls 50, 51 may embody radiant heaters, not shown, to maintain the soft condition of the thermoplastic ad hesive during the setting-up operation. This heating is however, auxiliary to primary heating means which are arranged to co-operate with the conveyor means while the blank is being conveyed from the magazine to the die, such primary heating means being arranged to effect heating of the thermoplastic adhesive so as to raise it to a temperature such that it will be sufficiently softened preparatory to the setting-up operation thereby reducing the length of time during which the blank need be retained in the die. a I

When the movable die walls 50, 51 release the pressure on the set-up carton the punch is raised and a second sucker device 66, FIGURES 3 and 5, engages the bottom of the carton and draws the carton downwards through the die and deposits it in the path of a pusher piece 67 carried by an endless chain conveyor 63 driven from the main shaft 28. The pusher piece 67 engages the setup carton and delivers it to any desired position, for example to a filling apparatus not shown.

The second sucker device 66 is slidable lengthwise of rods 70, FIGURES 3 and 5, and is operated by a link 71, FIGURE 5, which connects it to an operating arm 72 pivoted at 73 and connected to an eccentric 74 rotatable by the main shaft 28.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the conveyor means is operable by the main shaft and is arranged to move a plurality of blanks simultaneously and in succession to the die for setting-up in the die by the forming punch following engagement of the blanks by the conveyor means for an interval of time which exceeds the time taken for each revolution of the main shaft by a multiple thereof equal to the total number less one of blanks simultaneously engageable by the conveyor means. This is achieved by arranging that the spider rotates at a rate such that for each rotation of the spider the main shaft rotates a number of times which equals the number less one of the arms 34. Thus in the machine described above in which'the number of blanks simultaneously engageable by the conveyor means is four the heating time is three times that required for each revolution of the main shaft. Accordingly, if it be assumed that the apparatus is settingup cartons at the rate of 60 cartons per minute, that is 60 revolutions per minute of the main shaft, the heating interval for each blank preparatory to setting-up is 3 seconds.

In the apparatus described above with reference to the drawings the crank 26 and cams 56, 57 are driven in 1:1 ratio with the main shaft and spindle 35 is driven in 1:4 ratio with the main shaft.

I claim:

l. Carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a carton blank can be pressed to effect the settingup thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition preapplied to the blank, a main shaft, a forming punch operable by the main shaft once during each revolution of the shaft to enter the die, conveyor means operable by the main shaft and arranged to move a plurality of blanks simultaneously and in succession to the die for setting-up therein by the forming punch following engagement of the blanks by the conveyor means for an interval of time which exceeds the time taken for each revolution of the main shaft by a multiple thereof equal to the total number less one of blanks simultaneously engageable by the conveyor means, and heater means movable with the conveyor means and arranged throughout movement of a blank by the conveyor means to direct heat towards the blank'to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die.

2. Carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a carton blank can be pressed to effect the settingup thereof and the pressing togetherof overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition preapplied to the blank, a magazine to contain a stack of said carton blanks, conveyor means to move a plurality of blanks simultaneously and in succession to said die, transfer means operable in timed relation with the conveyor means to remove blanks one at a time from the magazine and position them for movement to the die by the conveyor means, heater means movable with the conveyor means and arranged throughout movement of a blank by the conveyor to direct heat towards the blank to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die, and a forming punch operable in timed relation with the conveyor means to press into the die a blank delivered thereto by the conveyor means.

3. Carton setting-up apparatus comprising a 'die into which a carton blank can be pressed to effect the setting-up thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition pre-applied to the blank, a main shaft, a forming punch operable by the main shaft once during each revolution of the shaft to enter the die, a spider rotatable continuously by said main shaft and having a plurality of equispaced arms extending radially from the axis of rotation thereof, pusher elements movable with each of said arms and supported thereby for movement relative thereto into and out of the path of a blank to be engaged and positioned thereby relative to the die, and radiant heater devices movable with each of said arms to direct heat towards a blank engaged by the pusher elements thereby to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die by the forming punch, said spider being rotatable at a rate such that for each rotation of the spider the main shaft rotates a number of times which equals the number less one of the arms extending from the spider.

4. Carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a carton blank cm be pressed to effect the setting-up thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition pro-applied to the blank, a main shaft, a forming punch operable by the main shaft once during each revolution of the shaft to enter the die, a spider rotatable continuously by said main shaft and having a plurality of equispaced arms extending radially from the axis of rotation thereof, a pusher spindle pivoted to each said arm, pusher elements secured to the pusher spindle for pivotal movement therewith into and out of the path of a blank to be engaged and positioned thereby relative to the die, a cam to effect pivotal movement of the pusher spindle, follower means connecting the pusher spindle with the cam, and radiant heater devices movable with each of said arms to direct heat towards a blank engaged by the usher elements thereby to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die by the forming punch, said spider being rotatable at a rate such that for each rotation of the spider the main shaft rotates a number of times which equals the number less one of the arms extending from the spider.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, including ejector means operable in timed relation with the forming punch to withdraw a set-up carton through the bottom of the die.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, including a delivery conveyor co-operating with the ejector means to receive therefrom a carton removed from the die and to remove the carton so received away from the settingup apparatus.

7. Carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a carton blank can be pressed to efiect the settingup thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition pro-applied to the blank, a magazine to contain a stack of said carton blanks, a main shaft, a forming punch operable by the main shaft once during each revolution of the shaft to enter the die, a magazine to contain a stack of said carton blanks, a spider rotatable continuously by said main shaft and having a plurality of equispaced arms extending radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said spider being rotatable at a rate such that for each rotation of the spinder the main shaft rotates a number of times which equals the number less one of said arms, pusher elements movable with each of said arms and supported thereby for movement relative thereto into and out of the path of a blank to be engaged and positioned thereby relative to the die radiant heater devices movable with each of said arms to direct heat towards a blank engaged by the pusher elements thereby to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die by the forming punch, and transfer means operable by the main shaft to remove blanks one at a time from the magazine and to position them for engagement and movement by said pusher elements.

8. Carton setting-up apparatus comprising a die into which a cmton blank can be pressed to effect the settingup thereof and the pressing together of overlying blank portions which during setting-up are to be secured one to the other by a thermoplastic adhesive composition preapplied to the blank, a magazine to contain a stack of said carton blanks, a main shaft, a forming punch operable by the main shaft once during each revolution of the shaft to enter the die, a magazine to contain a stack of sad carton blanks, a spider rotatable continuously by said main shaft and having a plurality of equispaced arms extending radially from the axis of rotation thereof, said spider being rotatable at a rate such that for each rotation of the spider the main shaft rotates a number of times which equals the number less one of said arms, a pusher spindle pivoted to each said arm, pusher elements secured to the pusher spindle for pivotal movement therewith into and out of the path of a blank to be engaged and positioned thereby relative to the die, a cam to effect pivotal movement of the pusher spindle, follower means connecting the pusher spindle with the cam, radiant heater devices movable with each of said arms to direct heat towards a blank engaged by the pusher elements thereby to render tacky the adhesive composition on the blank preparatory to movement thereof into the die by the forming punch, and transfer means operable by the main shaft to remove blanks one at a time from the magazine and to position them for engagement and movement by said pusher elements.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, including ejector means operable in timed relation with the forming punch to withdraw a set-up carton through the bottom of the die.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, including a delivery conveyor co-operating with the ejector means to receive therefrom a carton removed from the die and to remove the carton so received away from the settingup apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,278 Hayes June 20, 1939 2,169,311 Widell Aug. 15, 1939 2,874,619 Phin Feb. 24, 1959 

